Patriots Daily: Maye and Bell Make Preseason All-Rookie Team

CBS Sports made their NFL Preseason All-Rookie Team for the 2024 season. Positions consisted of a first team, second team, and honorable mention. There were 49 players honored in total. Two of the New England Patriots’ eight draft picks were recognized as part of the team: QB Drake Maye and TE Jaheim Bell.

Drake Maye received honorable mention at quarterback. The two players in front of him were the first two selections in the 2024 NFL Draft. Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears was the first-team QB, with the Washington Caommanders’ Jayden Daniels on second-team.

Maye making any team might be difficult. It appears Jacoby Brissett will begin the season as New England’s starting quarterback. Based on Brissett’s performance, Maye’s opportunities to make an impact in Year 1 could be limited. Fellow rookie quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy (Vikings) and Bo Nix (Broncos) are also fighting for starting spots, though could end up as backups to begin their NFL careers.

Also Read – Meet the New England Patriots 2024 NFL Draft Class

Jaheim Bell receiving the second-team tight end nod is a more interesting pick. He was the eleventh tight end taken in the April draft. However, Bell was ranked much higher in PFN’s rankings and has a chance to be an impact player for New England right out of the gates. Hunter Henry remains the Patriots’ starter at the position, with Austin Hooper and Jaheim Bell among those fighting for roster spots (and playing time) behind him.

Wide receivers Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, as well as offensive linemen Caedan Wallace and Layden Robinson were not named. However, it should surprise nobody if all four end up making significant contributions on the New England Patriots in 2024.

Also in Saturday’s Patriots Daily:

Patriots Fun Fact of the Day

The Pro Football Writers Association has been naming an NFL All-Rookie Team since 1974. The most New England Patriots to make the team was four, in 1996. This was the same year that head coach Bill Parcells complained about “not shopping for the groceries.”

Most Patriots selections:

Four selections:
1996 – Terry Glenn (WR), Devin Wyman (DT), Lawyer Milloy (S), and Adam Vinatieri (K)

Three selections:
1988 – John Stephens (RB), Tim Goad (DT), and Jeff Feagles (P)
1995 – Curtis Martin (RB), Dave Wohlabaugh (C), and Ted Johnson (LB)
2003 – Dan Koppen (C), Eugene Wilson (S), and Bethel Johnson (KR)
2010 – Rob Gronkowski (TE), Devin McCourty (CB), and Zoltan Mesko (P)

Post of the Day

NFL great Matt Ryan was at New England Patriots training camp yesterday. he spoke to WBZ’s Dan Roche about New England Patriots rookie QB Drake Maye, Bill O’Brien becoming Boston College head football coach, and more:

Caught up with the great Matt Ryan @M_Ryan02
at #PatsCamp Friday, who's in town this weekend for the annual https://t.co/TRV7wNCN72

Matt will be joining the NFL Today on @NFLonCBS
this fall and I asked the former @BCFootball star about @Patriots Rookie QB Drake Maye @wbz pic.twitter.com/DkXb2HsUhQ

— Dan Roche (@RochieWBZ) August 3, 2024

Meet the Newest Patriots: Kellen Diesch and A.J. Thomas– New England made a pair of transactions on Friday. They added offensive tackle Kellen Diesch, who last played for the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad. They signed safety A.J. Thomas as well, who spent two years with the Chicago Bears before winning the 2024 UFL Championship with the Birmingham Stallions. The team said goodbye to Tyrone Wheatley Jr. and Deshaun Fenwick.

Training Camp Competition: Clarify on Patriots QB Pecking Order – Day 8 of training camp was on Friday. The team’s quarterback competition seems to be taking shape. Jacoby Brissett appears to be solidifying the starting job. Bailey Zappe received no reps and is looking like a longshot to make the roster. The two rookies sit in the middle.

Patriots 90-Man Roster Spotlight: Oshane Ximines – The edge defender can rush the quarterback, set an edge, and play special teams. He has also enjoyed an excellent training camp so far. Ximines should factor into the Patriots plans this season more than many might anticipate.

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